Catz (Manche)
The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles
- Liberation: June 10, 1944
- Deployed units:
29th Reconnaissance Troop, 29th Infantry Division
3/327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
826th Engineer Aviation Battalion
50th Fighter Group, 84th Fighter Wing, 9th Tactical Air Command
367th Fighter Group, 70th Fighter Wing, 9th Tactical Air Command
Grenadier-Regiment 915, 352. Infanterie-Division
- History:
In 1944, Catz was held by the German soldiers of the Grenadier-Regiment 915 (352. Infanterie-Division).
On 10 June 1944, at the start of the offensive by American airborne and airlifted troops to capture Carentan, Catz was one of the preliminary objectives of the 3rd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (armed by the 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment). The airborne soldiers advanced from north to south and reached the hamlet of Catz without encountering any particular difficulties. They captured the hamlet, leaving several elements behind, while A, C and G companies continued westwards.
At 3 pm, it is in the area of Catz that the junction between the Cotentin and Calvados troops takes place: the 29th Reconnaissance Troop (29th Infantry Division) under the command of Captain William H. Puntenney makes contact with the elements of the 3rd Battalion of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment.
As early as June 14, 1944, the 826th Engineer Aviation Battalion (EAB) built an aerodrome for the benefit of the US Air Force near the place called La Fourchette, marking the junction between the national road 13 (Paris-Cherbourg) and the national road 174 (Vire-Cherbourg). If the runway length of 1,524 meters (5,000 feet) is not fully completed until June 26, 1944, aircraft will land there as early as June 19. This aerodrome, named ALG A-10, serves as the base for the 50th Fighter Group (10th Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Squadron, 313rd Figther Squadron) equipped with P-47 Thunderbolt and the 367th Fighter Group (392nd Fighter Squadron) equipped with P-38 Lightning. Its proximity to the military hospital of Saint-Hilaire-Petitville facilitated the evacuation of the most serious wounded soldiers to England.
Catz maps:
